Trainer Greg Eurell believes the best is still ahead of promising stayer Aiglon.The three-year-old has won once in 11 starts but has shown an aptitude for longer races as he has matured.At his first try at 2000 metres, Aiglon ran an encouraging race to finished third just over a length behind the winner and Queensland Derby hope Zupacool in the Secondbite Plate at Flemington two weeks ago, and he faces a similar assignment at Caulfield on Saturday."It's nearly an identical race to last time and

Trainer Greg Eurell believes the best is still ahead of promising stayer Aiglon.

The three-year-old has won once in 11 starts but has shown an aptitude for longer races as he has matured.

At his first try at 2000 metres, Aiglon ran an encouraging race to finished third just over a length behind the winner and Queensland Derby hope Zupacool in the Secondbite Plate at Flemington two weeks ago, and he faces a similar assignment at Caulfield on Saturday.

"It's nearly an identical race to last time and he's in really good order," Eurell said of the Taralye Foundation Cup.

"This is the first preparation we have got him up to this sort of distance and at Flemington he handled it well.

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"He's a clean-winded horse who rolls forward and the barrier (two) is going to suit him."

Eurell said this campaign would provide a solid foundation for when Aiglon turns four next season.

"He is an improving sort of horse and once we get this preparation behind him he going to be even better," he said.

By Japan's dual Nakayama Grand Prix winner Grass Wonder, Aiglon is the first foal from Suz La Douce who failed at her only two starts.

Black type doesn't appear in his pedigree until his third dam, Coccinelle who is the grand-dam of this season's Group Two Hobartville Stakes winner Mic Mac, also trained by Eurell.

The Peter Moody-trained Macedonian came with a barnstorming finish to beat Aiglon for second place at Flemington and he again looks hard to hold out.

Moody said there was much to look forward to with the Zabeel gelding who has only had three starts and won his race debut with another big finish at Cranbourne in December.

"There is good upside to him," Moody said.

"He's looks like he's going to be a nice staying horse for the future but the question is whether 2000 metres is going to be too short for him after his last run," Moody said.

Moody said stablemate North East Smile could finish ahead of Macedonian.

He said he had been trying to train her for the Queensland Oaks but a "messy" campaign had hindered plans.

"I have always believed she could measure up to black type," Moody said.

He said a wet track ruined her chances last start in the Group Three Auraria Stakes (1800m) in Adelaide.

TAB Sportsbet is risking North East Smile as an outsider at $35.

Street Cry colt Shocking is the dominant $2.40 favourite ahead of Macedonian ($7) and Aiglon at $8.50.

Trained by Mark Kavanagh, Shocking is on trial at 2000 metres for next month's Queensland Derby (2400m) but showed courage to win narrowly over 1600 metres at Flemington last Saturday.